BLM’S Little Snake Field Office partnering with youth groups

The Bureau of Land Management’s Little Snake Field Office and a host of community partners have teamed up to improve public lands and get young people outside, according to a BLM news release.

“We have a number of projects planned this summer that are only possible through the support of local community organizations,” said Dave Blackstun, the acting Little Snake Field Manager, in the release. “In addition to the public benefits of work such as trail construction and maintenance, these partnerships are helping get young people into the outdoors.”

The Steamboat Springs Youth Corps, a group of 14 to 16 year olds, will spend three weeks working on projects on BLM lands in Moffat and Routt counties this summer, the BLM reported. The group will put the finishing touches on the Duffy Mountain Geological Interpretive Trail, as well as the Duffy Mountain River Access Campground expansion.

They’ll also perform trail maintenance on the Ridge

Trail in the Emerald Mountain Special Recreation Area outside of Steamboat Springs near Cow Creek Road.

The field office received $8,500 for these projects from BLM’s Take It Outside program, which encourages children and their families to spend more time outdoors on public lands, improve their health, and to promote stewardship of public lands.

The Youth Corps will also spend two weeks helping the

Rotary Club of Steamboat Springs build the Rotary Trail in the Emerald Mountain SRMA.

This two-year project will include trail construction, interpretive signs, and trailhead improvements. The Rotary Club donated $7,500 for this trail, which they generated through the April 3 Tango and Cash event.

The Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, a group of 18 to 25 year olds, will spend two weeks working with the Routt County Riders and BLM to construct the Moose Draw/Agate Creek Trail in the Emerald Mountain SRMA.

This work is being funded through a $35,000 grant to the Routt County Riders from the Great Outdoors Colorado program.

The BLM anticipates this trail will be completed in

The Routt County Riders is a non-profit organization promoting bicycling in the area.